For Release: Immediate
Contact:
Keri J. Sperry (703) 295-6775
Michael J. Bernstein (703) 648-8910; [email protected]
ASTRO Meeting Features Papers on Seed Implants, Treatments to Reduce Blood Flow to Tumors
Studies showing the effectiveness of seed implants for prostate cancer and a keynote address on ground-breaking research on the use of various therapies to cut blood flow to cancerous tumors will highlight the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. The meeting will be held October 26-October 28 in Phoenix, AZ.
Highlights of the meeting include:
Monday, October 26, 1998
9 a.m. Larry Kun, M.D., will deliver the president's address on the role for modern radiation therapy in treating the most common malignant brain tumor in children. The title: Medulloblastoma-A Model System for Radiation Oncology
10:15 a.m. Seed implants are just as effective as traditional external beam therapy in treating early-stage prostate cancer.
Certain postmenopausal women receiving tamoxifen for breast cancer are at higher risk of recurrence and should, therefore, also have radiation therapy. This poster session will run throughout the meeting.
External-beam radiation-based stereotactic radiosurgery is an effective way to treat malformations in the veins and arteries of children. This poster session will run throughout the meeting.
Tuesday, October 27
9:30 a.m. Internationally known oncology expert Marie Overgaard, M.D. delivers a keynote address on the impact of radiation therapy on the survival of breast cancer patients.
11:45 a.m. A Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study finds more physician education is needed on pain management despite issuance of federal guidelines on the subject.
Wednesday, October 28
9 a.m. Internationally known cancer researcher Judah Folkman, M.D., who earlier this year unveiled research on antiangiogenesis (cutting blood flow to cancerous tumors) will deliver a keynote address. He will discuss several ways-including radiation therapy-to cut the blood flow to cancers.
10:30 a.m. A study has found that using Ethyol, an inorganic phosphate, can lessen side effects from radiation therapy for patients being treated for head and neck cancer. Poster discussion.
11:06 a.m. A five-year study shows radioactive seeds placed in the area of breast cancer (brachytherapy) can be just as effective as external beam radiation for this disease.
11:42 a.m. Young breast cancer patients undergoing lumpectomy and radiation therapy should consider testing to determine if they have a certain gene mutation (known as BRCA1/BRCA2) which places them at greater risk of recurrence of the disease, according to a study.
11:42 a.m. A study finds that radiation therapy soon after surgery for certain types of prostate cancer can significantly reduce the risk of treatment failure compared with surgery alone.
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 5,000 members. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the society's goals are to advance the scientific base of radiation therapy and to extend the benefits of radiation therapy to those with cancer.
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